Budget Conference report still threatens Arctic Refuge
We have just received word that the Budget conference report could begin moving quickly, resulting in a full congressional vote before week's end. As we've reported in the past, the Budget Conference report represents an enormous threat to the Arctic Refuge, because it cannot be blocked with a filibuster by those who believe the Arctic Refuge should be off-limits to drilling.
Whether you've taken action once or even a dozen times before, we urgently need you to call your Representative and Senators today urging them to vote against any budget conference report that includes reconciliation instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.
Please call your Representative and Senators today.
1. First, call and urge your Representative to vote against any budget conference report that includes reconciliation instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.
2. Then, do the same thing for Senators. Call and urge them to vote against any budget conference report that includes reconciliation instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.
You can look up the name and phone numbers of your Members of Congress here: http://ga1.org/wilderness/leg-lookup/search.tcl
Please note: Some Members of Congress have been strong supporters of Arctic Refuge protection and are poised to do the right thing on this vote. We encourage you to see how they have voted on recent Arctic Refuge votes. Thank them if they voted recently to oppose Arctic Refuge oil drilling. Click here for the latest vote in the U.S. House of Representatives: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll122.xml
Click here for the latest Senate vote:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00052
When You Call
You'll either be forwarded to a staff member or an answering machine to leave your message. Be sure to state your name and hometown, then your message.
Background
The budget conference report need not say the words "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" to result in Arctic Refuge drilling. In fact, it is likely that the report will not mention the Refuge by name but will instead contain "reconciliation instructions" to the House Resources and Senate Energy Committees, requiring them to cut their budgets by a specific amount.
Although these open-ended instructions sound harmless, the Committees would be allowed to fulfill the instructions by changing laws to generate new revenue, instead of making actual cuts. Reconciliation instructions would therefore give pro-drilling chairmen of these committees, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA), everything they need to avoid a Senate filibuster over drilling the Arctic Refuge.
A vote for a budget resolution with these open-ended instructions is a vote to drill America's Arctic Refuge, whether or not it mentions the Refuge by name. Unlike the energy bill, the budget resolution cannot be filibustered.
Please call your Senators and Representatives today. Thank you.
http://www.wilderness.org 1615 M St, NW Washington, DC 20036 1.800.THE.WILD action@tws.org
Whether you've taken action once or even a dozen times before, we urgently need you to call your Representative and Senators today urging them to vote against any budget conference report that includes reconciliation instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.
Please call your Representative and Senators today.
1. First, call and urge your Representative to vote against any budget conference report that includes reconciliation instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.
2. Then, do the same thing for Senators. Call and urge them to vote against any budget conference report that includes reconciliation instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.
You can look up the name and phone numbers of your Members of Congress here: http://ga1.org/wilderness/leg-lookup/search.tcl
Please note: Some Members of Congress have been strong supporters of Arctic Refuge protection and are poised to do the right thing on this vote. We encourage you to see how they have voted on recent Arctic Refuge votes. Thank them if they voted recently to oppose Arctic Refuge oil drilling. Click here for the latest vote in the U.S. House of Representatives: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll122.xml
Click here for the latest Senate vote:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00052
When You Call
You'll either be forwarded to a staff member or an answering machine to leave your message. Be sure to state your name and hometown, then your message.
Background
The budget conference report need not say the words "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" to result in Arctic Refuge drilling. In fact, it is likely that the report will not mention the Refuge by name but will instead contain "reconciliation instructions" to the House Resources and Senate Energy Committees, requiring them to cut their budgets by a specific amount.
Although these open-ended instructions sound harmless, the Committees would be allowed to fulfill the instructions by changing laws to generate new revenue, instead of making actual cuts. Reconciliation instructions would therefore give pro-drilling chairmen of these committees, Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA), everything they need to avoid a Senate filibuster over drilling the Arctic Refuge.
A vote for a budget resolution with these open-ended instructions is a vote to drill America's Arctic Refuge, whether or not it mentions the Refuge by name. Unlike the energy bill, the budget resolution cannot be filibustered.
Please call your Senators and Representatives today. Thank you.
http://www.wilderness.org 1615 M St, NW Washington, DC 20036 1.800.THE.WILD action@tws.org
Starmail - 27. Apr, 16:23
